Change of use of listed building from a retail space (A1) to a restaurant (A3)

Project Brief

Our client was a local property management company wishing to convert a disused shop in a listed building into a restaurant. Their planning application was very badly handled by one of the UK’s leading planning consultants, who not only failed in gaining planning permission for the client, but then lodged a reapplication without their permission. The frustrated client came to Get Planning and Architecture to make an appeal.

Project Outcome

The council’s reasons for refusal had been that the development would result in an unacceptable loss of retail space in the high street, that the impact
of the restaurant’s proposed extraction system would detract from the look of the listed building and conservation area, and that the restaurant may result in noise and disturbance for residential neighbours. Get Planning and Architecture looked in detail at the history of the property, which, during the long campaign to sell it, had received no interest from retailers. We also found a policy stating that ‘in exceptional circumstances the addition of a restaurant or similar use (A3 Use Class) may add to town centre’s attractiveness’.

We then reviewed the plans for the extraction system and prepared drawings which demonstrated that, due to the positioning of the extraction system, it would not be detrimental to the listed building or the surrounding conservation area. Our client was extremely relieved at the appeal success, and impressed with our thorough and professional work.